After having crossed the Drake Passage under very pleasant conditions, we began our day within sight of land, the first in nearly 600 nautical miles. This land was the tip of South America, Cape Horn, or Cabo de Hornos, the very same peril-wrought land responsible for hundreds of shipwrecks over the last two centuries. With fairly calm conditions and the occasional albatross soaring by, we were able to keep “The Horn” in sight off our port side as we made our way to the entrance to the Beagle Channel.
Just as we began our expedition sailing the Beagle Channel, so did we conclude, with the glacially sculpted slopes clad in lush southern beech forest, making for a striking contrast and warm welcome after our time in Antarctica. Our destination, Ushuaia, on the northeastern shores of the channel, serves as the jumping off point for Antarctic adventures of all sorts. The rest of the day would be spent taking in the sights, watching wildlife, and preparing for the journey home, along with a farewell reception hosted by the captain—a fine time to reminisce about our time together on the White Continent.
